Paint design transfer tool



y 28, 1964 R. B. HARWOOD 3,142,082

PAINT DESIGN TRANSFER TOOL Filed Sept. 19, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [NV EN TOR. Eaezzer 647V!!! baeuaaa I L BY v I -5 %,4dn-l 6 71 gg g R. a HA'RWOOD mm nssrcn msmz TOOL July 28, 1964 Filed son. 19. 1961 2 Shuts-Sh out 2 i Viv uwmrox. Mr dame-1r ma By v ORNEYS United States Patent O 3,142,082 PAINT DESIGN TRANSFER TOOL Robert Bennett Harwood, 285 E. 79th St, Chicago, Ill. Filed Sept. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 139,133 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-21i).5)

The present invention relates to an improved transfer tool for applying paint designs.

Many domestic surfaces are desirably decorated with an ornamental pattern or design. Walls and ceilings are commonly papered for this purpose or decorated with texture paint. Sometimes stenciled designs are applied, and less commonly hand painted designs. Some of these modes of decorating are expensive due to materials required, certain modes require unusual or elaborate equipment, and some of these modes demand a high degree of skill generally not possessed by a householder or even a professional painter or decorator.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved transfer tool for applying decorative designs to domestic surfaces enabling unskilled persons to produce highly desirable and pleasing ornamental effects by following quite simple instructions.

Another object of the invention is to provide inexpensive, simple and easily operable means for producing decorative effects on especially domestic surfaces: although usable in respect to other similar surfaces if desired.

Still another object of the. invention is to provide a novel transfer tool for applying decorative designs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved design transfer device for effecting decorative design ornamentation of surfaces, and which device enables treatment of broad areas as well as narrow areas with equal efficiency.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved design applicator tool having novel replaceable design carrying facing means.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a more or less schematic perspective view illustrating an initial step in carrying out the novel method of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a more or less schematic perspective view showing a further step in carrying out the method;

FIGURE 3 is a more or less schematic fragmentary perspective view illustrating another step in practicing the method;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a slight variation in applying decorative design to a wall surface;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a design applicator tool embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the tool looking toward the right of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view of the tool;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal sectional detail view through the tool taken substantially on the line VIII- VIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective rear elevational view of a transfer pad panel utilized in practicing the method and also shown in FIGURES l and 2; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view showing an adapter for using the applicator tool in multiples in order to cover a larger area with each application of the tool to a surface.

A number of advantageous features are incorporated in the transfer tool 14. It is of a lightweight but adequately rigid construction to withstand normally active and vigorous usage as well as accidental and careless abuses that may reasonably be anticipated. In addition, the transfer tool 14 is equipped with a novel arrangement for ready selected interchangeability of design applicator facings.

In a desirable, economical form, the transfer tool 14 is provided with a body structure which is especially suited to be made from lightweight sheet metal such as aluminum alloy, although steel or other desirable sheet or strip stock may be utilized. To this end, the body of the tool comprises a main or base plate 18 (FIGS. 5, 6 & 8) of preferably elongated, rectangular form. At one end the base plate or panel 18, which provides a fairly large pressure applying area, is provided preferably integrally in one piece therewith with a right angularly upturned auxiliary pressure applying panel portion 19 which shown, the handle is of only fractionally the length of the main panel 18.

For convenient manipulation of the tool 14, a handle 29 is provided which is mounted longitudinally centrally within the angle provided between the panel portions 18 and 19 and in such a manner as to afford balanced manipulation of the tool and equally effective color application manual pressure through either the main panel 18 or the auxiliary smaller panel 19. To this end, the handle 20 is desirably made of a single piece of sheet metal shaped into generally rounded elongated tubular form with adjoining or at least closely opposing free edges along the lower or inner side of the handle, and of a perimeter size and curvate shape which is comfortable and convenient to grasp for manipulation. Although, as 20 need not be as long as the main panel 18, its length is adequate to accommodate even a very large hand, and more particularly the grasping fingers of such hand. a

At one end, the handle 20 is provided with a supporting and attachment bracket 21 which preferably comprises a leg integrally in one piece with the handle closing such end of the handle and projecting right angularly beyond the longitudinal free edge joint of the handle to engage the back face of the main panel 18 through a right angularly extending foot flange 22 secured in any pre-' ferred manner such as by spot welding to the panel 18. In this instance, the attachment bracket 21 is located at the end of the handle remote from the auxiliary panel 19 of the tool.

At its end adjacent the panel 19, the handle 20 is provided with an attachement flange bracket 23, which is also preferably constructed as an integral one-piece ex-' tension from the handle, projecting in the same direction as the supporting flange bracket 21 and preferably of the same length. At its distal end, the bracket flange extension 23 preferably engages the main panel 18 contiguous to the auxiliary panel 19, while the outer face of the bracket flange 23 abuts the auxiliary panel 19 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner as by spot welding. As shown, the adjacent end of the handle 20 operatively abuts the distal margin of the auxiliary panel 19 which is thus effectively buttressed against inward deflection relative to the handle 20 or the main panel 18 upon the imposition of thrust toward the auxiliary panel 19 by means of the handle 29. Relative flexing movement of the auxiliary panel 19 during such thrust theretoward of the handle 28 is further resisted and effectively precluded within operating desirability by the reinforcing juncture bend rib afforded where the two panels join. Additional reinforcement is, of course, afforded by the attachment flange bracket 23 through its rigid attachment, to the auxiliary panel 19.

To enable drainage of any cleaning fluid that may possibly seep into the interior of the hollow handle 2%) through possibly slightly loose joints between the free edges of the handle and between the end edges of the handle and 3 the bracket flanges 21 and 23, a drainage hole 24 is prefereably provided in the handle end closure portion of the bracket flange 21 (FIG. 4 & 8).

Applicator facings are provided for each of the main and auxiliary panels 1% and 19, respectively, of the transfer tool 14. Advantageously, these facings are constructed as an integral unit comprising a main applicator facing panel 25 and an auxiliary applicator facing panel 27, respectively dimensioned of substantially the same effective area as the pressure faces of the main and auxiliary panels 18 and 19 of the tool. In a practical form, the applicator facing panel unit is made from a molded semi-rigid, form-sustaining plastic material of which there are numerous types now commercially available and which lend themselves readily to molding to set into sufficiently firmly form-retaining condition for the present use, but nevertheless possessed of sufficient resilient flexibility in thin section to be readily manipulated. Thus, the applicator panels 25 and 27 are constructed as essentially flat plates of the plastic material of suitable thickness and connected together by an integral juncture hinge 28 of substantially less thickness than the panels to be readily flexible so that although the panels may be molded in a common plane, they can then be bent on the juncture hinge into substantially right angular relation to one another.

Attachment of the applicatior facing panel unit to the suporting and back-up panels 18 and 19 of the transfer tool 14 is elfected in a manner which will permit not only easy assembly, but also easy removal and replacement of the applicator facing unit. To this end, the base panel 18 is provided along its longitudinal edges with confronting generally L-shaped retainer flanges 29 (FIGS. 5, 6 & 7) affording longitudinal grooves with the contiguous margins of the panel 18 opening endwise from the axuiliary panel end of the main panel 18 and cross-scctionally dimentioned to freely slidably receive the longitudinal margins of the applicator panel 29 in assembly therewith. At its opposite end, the main panel 18 is provided with a similar generally underturned, complementary generally L-shaped groove-forming flange 3% serving as a stop for the free end of the applicator panel 25 and a retainer for the free end margin of the applicator panel. In addition to their applicator panel retaining function, the longitudinal and end marginal flanges 29 and 3h alford subtantial reinforcement for the continguous margins of the main panel 18 and finish the edges of the main panel.

Retention of the auxiliary applicator facing panel 27 in operative face-to-face relation to the auxiliary panel 19, is effected by a generally return-bent, substantially L- shaped reinforcing and retainer flange 31 on the distal end margin of the auxilimy panel 19, providing a channel groove dimensioned to receive the distal margin of the applicator facing panel 27 by projecting such margin of the auxiliary facing panel thereinto by an endwise motion.

Assembly of the applicator facing panel unit with the supporting frame panel structure provided by the main panel 18 and the auxiliary panel 19 of the transfer tool is facilitated by the construction and relationship of the connector hinge 28 to the applicator panels. For this pupose the hinge 28 is formed initially in a plane with the outer, applicator faces of the applicator panels 25 and 27, and with a groove 28a recessed over the hinge 28 between the adjacent ends of the panels 25 and 27 and of sufficient width so that when the panels 25 and 27 are bent up about the hinge 28 they can be swung toward one another into an acute angle as shown in dash outline in FIG. 8, threby clearing the lip afforded by the overhanging retainer flange 31 of the auxiliary panel 19 as as the main applicator panel 25 is slidably assembled with the retainer flanges 29 of the main panel 18. Then, when the distal edge of the thus acutely angled auxiliary applicator panel 27 strikes the opposing face of the auxiliary panel 19, such edge of the auxiliary applicator panel is cammed into the groove defined by the retainer flange 31 in the continued assembly movement of the main applicator panel 25 until the assembly has been completed.

A valuable feature of having the hinge 28 aligned with the outer faces of the applicator panels 25' and 27 and thus at the outside corner of the angle formed between the bent up panels resides in a thus built-in resilient, spring bias tending at all times automatically to maintain the applicator facing unit assembled with the holder portion of the transfer tool and against dislodgment or slip ing therefrom. This result accrues from tensioning of the material in the hinge 28 as the panels are bent up, and the so-called memory factor of the plastic material which seeks to return to its original, molded relation. Therefore, the aux iliary applicator panel 27 biased by the spring action of the hinge 23 thrusts at its distal margin against the lip of the overhanging retaining flange 31, and since it cannot escape by swinging outwardly causes an inward reaction on the hinge end of the auxiliary applicator panel and correspondingly thrusts the main applicator panel 25 rearwardly, that is toward the retainer flange 3%. When, however, it is desired to remove the applicator unit from the holder, that can readily be done by moving the main applicator panel 25 forwardly and at the same time pulling downwardly on the auxiliary panel member 25 as the panel members approach the sharp angularity depicted in dash outline in FIG. 8, whereby to disengage the distal margin of the auxiliary applicator panel 27 from the retainer fiange 31. Then the main panel 25 can he slid freely from the retaining flanges 29 of the main panel 16 of the holder.

Projecting from the outer face of the main applicator panel 25 is a pattern of color pick-up and transfer projections 32. These may be in a great variety of forms and outlines or shapes, but are all characterized in projecting to a common plane parallel with and at a substantial distance from the face plane of the panel 25 from which they project. Thereby not only do the color transfer pattern projections 32 positively clear the plane of the underturned lip portions of the retaining flanges 29 and 30, but they afford substantial wear tolerance, and the color trans fer surfaces of the projections are amply spaced from the face of the panel 25 to avoid any possibility of the panel face areas coming in contact with the color transfer surface of the transfer pad 19.

Color transfer projections 33 are provided on the auxiliary applicator panel 27.

The particular form of the color transfer projections 32 as shown will produce What may be referred to as a line spatter ornamental design D when applied to a wall surface by means of the projections 32 on the main applicator panel as shown in FIG. 3, or by the applicator color transfer projections 33 on the applicator panel 27, which is adapted to apply the design D to a narrow surface S as shown in FIG. 4.

It may be noted that when the main applicator panel projections 32 are being used to apply the design to the surface to receive the same, the particular relationship of the handle 20 to the back up main panel 18 of the holder structure of the transfer tool 14 assures a firm, uniform control application of light tapping pressure of the transfer projections 32 first to the transfer surface 12 of the transfer pad 10 to pick up color on the transfer tips of the projections 32, and then tapping pressure against the surface S to which the color pattern is to be transferred by the applicator projections 32. Not only does the arrangement of the handle assure that manual thrust of the holder toward the applicator panel 25 will be substantially centered on the panel, but by reason of the marginal rigidity of the main panel 18 of the holder such thrust will be effected in a firm, stabilized manner toward and in respect to the applicator facing of the main panel. It may also be observed that by having the rear supporting bracket 21 of the handle 20 attached to the main panel 18 of the holder spaced from the rear end as well as side margins of the panel, any degree of Warpage of the main panel away from the applicator face, or possible tendency of the panel 18 to flex away from the applicator face thereof, substantially diaphragm fashion, in use is effectively counteracted, because the thrust of the handle imposed on the panel 18 by supporting and attachment bracket 21 is opposite to any such warpage or diaphragm action.

For more rapid coverage of broad expanses of surfaces to be decorated, a plurality of the transfer tools 14 is adapted to be attached together to serve as a unit, thereby providing applicator facing area multiplied by the number of applicators connected together in the unit. Means for accomplishing this multi-tool arrangement is depicted in FIGURE 10. In this arrangement, a pair of the transfer tools 14 is disposed in side-by-side coextensive abutment and a handled connector 34 attaches them together as an operative unit. This connector comprises a connecting plate 35 of substantially the same length as the main panels 18 of the tools and of a width to overlap the contiguous margins of the tools, with the longitudinal edges of the connector plate disposed as closely adjacent to the opposed sides of the attachment brackets 21 and 23 of the tool handles as practicable for purposes of stability. Removable attaching means such as screws 37 secure the longitudinal marginal portions of the connecting plate 35 to the main panels 18. To accommodate such screws, the main panels 18 and the applicator facing panels are preferably preformed with registering screw holes 38 so as to adapt the tool 14 in each instance for ready assembly with another of the tools 14 at either side for multipleunitary use.

Centrally mounted longitudinally on the connecting plate is a manipulating handle 39 provided at each of its opposite ends with an attaching bracket 40 of substantially L-shape having a foot flange 41 secured as by Welding to the respective end marginal portion of the connecting plate 35. In order to afford substantial clearance with respect to the handles 20 of the tools 14, the vertical connecting legs of the attachment brackets 40 are preferably substantially longer than the corresponding legs of the attachment brackets 21 and 23 whereby the handle 39 is spaced a greater distance from the attaching plate 35 than the handles 20 are spaced from the tool panels 18.

Use of the combination or multi-tool unit proceeds as with a single tool, by manipulating the same through the handle 39, except that the area covered in each color transfer cycle is doubled. In this multi-tool assembly, the inherent rigidity of each of the tools 14 and the stabilizing effect of the contiguous edges of the auxiliary panels 19 assures that the applicator thrust applied through the connector handle 39 and the broad base afforded by the connecting plate 35 will result in a uniform transfer of color from a color carrying surface to the applicator tips of the applicator projections of the applicator facings of the main panels of the tools on each tapping of the combination assembly against the color carrying surface. Likewise the arrangement shown assures uniform transfer of the color from the tips of the applicator projections to the surface being decorated upon tapping of the combination assembly, whichever of the coplanar panels, that is the coplanar main panels 18 or the coplanar auxiliary panels 19 may be selectively utilized during any given cycle of use.

Although the handle 39 and its supporting and attachment bracket 40 nearest the auxiliary panels 19 may not be in direct contact With the auxiliary panels, the buttress relationship of the forward ends of the handles 20 to the backs of the auxiliary panels 19 assures firm undeviating thrust by the auxiliary panels 19 as an incident to manipulation of the combined tool assembly through the handle 39.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a design paint transfer tool, a holder comprising a main panel and an auxiliary panel substantially right angularly disposed on one end of the main panel, a manipulating handle on the holder within the angle defined by said panels, said main panel having longitudinal marginal flanges on the opposite face thereof from said handle and such marginal flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels opening at the auxiliary panel end of the main panel, and an applicator panel having one flat face and an opposite face provided with applicator projections, said applicator panel having margins engaged by longitudinally sliding the same into said channels from said auxiliary panel end, an auxiliary applicator panel on said first mentioned applicator panel and engageable against the auxiliary panel of the holder, and means on the auxiliary panel of the holder for retaining said auxiliary applicator panel and thereby retaining the first mentioned applicator panel against unintentional withdrawal from said channels.

2. In a design paint transfer tool, a holder comprising a main panel and an auxiliary panel substantially right angularly disposed on one end of the main panel, a manipulating handle on the holder Within the angle defined by said panels, said main panel having longitudinal marginal flanges on the opposite face thereof from said handle and such marginal flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels opening at the auxiliary panel end of the main panel, and an applicator panel having one fiat face and an opposite face provided with applicator projections, said applicator panel having margins engaged by longitudinally sliding the same into said channels from said auxiliary panel end, an auxiliary applicator panel on said first mentioned applicator panel and engageable against the auxiliary panel of the holder, and means on the auxiliary panel of the holder for retaining said auxiliary ap plicator panel and thereby retaining the first mentioned applicator panel against unintentional withdrawal from said channels, said means on the auxiliary panel of the holder comprises a lip flange on the distal end of the auxiliary panel and defining a groove in which a distal margin of the auxiliary applicator panel is engaged.

3. In a design paint transfer tool, a holder comprising a main panel and an auxiliary panel substantially right angularly disposed on one end of the main panel, a manipulating handle on the holder within the angle defined by said panels, said main panel having longitudinal marginal flanges on the opposite face thereof from said handle and such marginal flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels opening at the auxiliary panel end of the main panel, and an applicator panel having one flat face and an opposite face provided with applicator projections, said applicator panel having margins engaged by longitudinally sliding the same into said channels from said auxiliary panel end, an auxiliary applicator panel on said first mentioned applicator panel and engageable against the auxiliary panel of the holder, and means on the auxiliary panel of the holder for retaining said auxiliary applicator panel and thereby retaining the first mentioned applicator panel against unintentional withdrawal from said channels, said applicator panels having a hinge connection enabling the same to be angularly related from a flat coplanar condition.

4. In a design paint transfer tool, a holder comprising a main panel and an auxiliary panel substantially right angularly disposed on one end of the main panel, a manipulating handle on the holder within the angle defined by said panels, said main panel having longitudinal marginal flanges on the opposite face thereof from said handle and such marginal flanges defining opposed longitudinal channels opening at the auxiliary panel end of the main panel, and an applicator panel having one flat face and an opposite face provided with applicator projections, said applicator panel having margins engaged by longitudinally sliding the same into said channels from said auxilialy panel end, an auxiliary applicator panel on said first mentioned applicator panel and engageable against the auxiliary panel of the holder, and means on the auxiliary panel of the holder for retaining said auxiliary applicator panel and thereby retaining the first mentioned applicator panel against unintentional Withdrawal from said channels, said applicator panels having a biasing spring connection normally tending to move the applicator panels toward a coplanar condition and thereby as a result of the retention of the auxiliary applicator panel by said means on the auxiliary panel of the holder reacting to maintain a thrust of the auxiliary applicator panel toward the at tached first mentioned applicator panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Boynston July 12, 1832 Clapp July 7, 1910 Wightrnan May 18, 1915 Woodrufi June 14, 1921 Bornstein Apr. 1, 1924 Melino Sept. 2, 1924 Voecks Jan. 13, 1931 Hampson May 9, 1933 

1. IN A DESIGN PAINT TRANSFER TOOL, A HOLDER COMPRISING A MAIN PANEL AND AN AUXILIARY PANEL SUBSTANTIALLY RIGHT ANGULARLY DISPOSED ON ONE END OF THE MAIN PANEL, A MANIPULATING HANDLE ON THE HOLDER WITHIN THE ANGLE DEFINED BY SAID PANELS, SAID MAIN PANEL HAVING LONGITUDINAL MARGINAL FLANGES ON THE OPPOSITE FACE THEREOF FROM SAID HANDLE AND SUCH MARGINAL FLANGES DEFINING OPPOSED LONGITUDINAL CHANNELS OPENING AT THE AUXILIARY PANEL END OF THE MAIN PANEL, AND AN APPLICATOR PANEL HAVING ONE FLAT FACE AND AN OPPOSITE FACE PROVIDED WITH APPLICATOR PROJECTIONS, SAID APPLICATOR PANEL HAVING MARGINS ENGAGED BY LONGITUDINALLY SLIDING THE SAME INTO SAID CHANNELS FROM SAID AUXILIARY PANEL END, AN AUXILIARY APPLICATOR PANEL ON SAID FIRST MENTIONED APPLICATOR PANEL AND ENGAGEABLE AGAINST THE AUXILIARY PANEL OF THE HOLDER, AND MEANS ON THE AUXILIARY PANEL OF THE HOLDER FOR RETAINING SAID AUXILIARY APPLICATOR PANEL AND THEREBY RETAINING THE FIRST MENTIONED APPLICATOR PANEL AGAINST UNINTENTIONAL WITHDRAWAL FROM SAID CHANNELS. 